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| Schwarzenegger flanked by
Warren Buffet, left, and Lord Rothschild, at stately Waddesdon
Manor. But has the actor set his sights on a house of a whiter
hue? | |
Is Arnold
the running man?
Stephen McGinty
Tough-guy Arnold Schwarzenegger is
a man more familiar with the red carpets of a movie premiere than a white
collar business seminar, so the sight of the Terminator escorting Warren
Buffet, the second-richest man on the planet, to the European Economic
Round Table conference on Monday was slightly strange. His pressed
business suit, white shirt (attaboy Arnie) and sombre striped tie were a
world away from the army fatigues or black leather jacket of his signature
roles, triggering speculation that a career change may be just around the
corner.
After a string of flops - remember Eraser, End of Days and
Collateral Damage? Probably not - the actor needs next year�s Terminator 3
to hit paydirt. Should the film nosedive he plans to move into politics
and run for the governorship of California, the platform from which Ronald
Reagan propelled himself into the White House. A spokesman for NetJets,
the corporate aircraft firm owned by Buffet - which sponsored the seminar
- insisted Arnie was an ordinary delegate, as well as a customer, just
there to listen. He was not there to talk nor paid to attend.
From
the sidelines it seems a slick piece of synergy by the billionaire Buffet:
organise a lavish conference at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, the
ancestral home of the Rothschild banking family, invite the world�s
leading businessmen and financiers, and dazzle them with a major Hollywood
star. Schwarzenegger, an astute businessman himself with a degree in
business and economics from the University of Wisconsin, gains the wisdom
and knowledge of guest speakers such as James Wolfensohn, president of the
World Bank, Jorma Ollila, chief executive of Nokia and Roland Berger, a
prominent consultant in global strategy. After two days of handshakes and
drinks he�ll have boosted his credibility with the men who may one day
bankroll his political ambitions. He might well also point out how happy
he is with NetJets� services. The company, whose other clients include
Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis, sell an eighth or a 16th of a private jet
to customers, entitling them to a certain number of flying hours without
the expense of maintaining ground crews and hanger space.
A
Republican - though one married to a Kennedy - Schwarzenegger signalled
his support for Dubya Bush in his choice of footwear. While his follow
guests shuffled around in their handmade Italian shoes, Arnie had the
additional swagger bestowed by a pair of black cowboy boots with stainless
steel tips.
What appeared to be a promotional stunt may instead be
the actor�s next step towards joining the President�s political
posse. |
